Solar panels offer an off-the-grid method for subsidizing your reliance on a centralized power company and fossil fuels. Although this renewable, nonpolluting system offers many advantages, including long-term savings, you should also consider the potential disadvantages. Whether these outweigh the benefits is entirely up to you.

High Upfront Costs

The most prominent disadvantage for erecting solar panels is the initial expense. Although a solar panel array could save you tens of thousands of dollars over the years to come, the initial expense can be formidable. The exact figures vary tremendously, but in 2013, the average cost ranged from $3 to $8 per watt. Fortunately, many companies offer zero-down-payment financing for such systems, and the federal government offers tax credits and rebates to encourage your migration to renewable energy.

Sunlight Dependence

For solar panels to operate, you need sufficient solar energy to transform into usable electric energy. That means systems in northern areas or those with considerable cloud cover won't produce as much energy as systems in, for example, Hawaii. Likewise, solar panels can't collect energy at night, but most arrays incorporate battery packs to store collected energy for use when sunlight is unavailable.

A300 mobile placeholder

Low Efficiency

Solar panels convert only 15 to 22 percent of collected solar energy to electrical energy, so you need a large arrangement of panels to sufficiently fuel your needs. Although the array can extend into your yard, your best option is to use otherwise unused space, such as your roof. Unfortunately, most homes don't have enough sunlight-rich surface area to be completely off the grid, but you can significantly reduce your dependence on centralized electricity.

Requires Minor Maintenance

Compared to a car, house or appliance, solar panels require negligible maintenance, but you can't forget about them. Panels require periodic cleaning, which means you need to climb up on your roof once a year or more. You'll also need to trim away sunlight-blocking branches from above your array to maintain maximum efficiency.